Summary

The Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) 8.0 update lets you use the new Remote Desktop Services features that were introduced in Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012. These features are now available for computers that are running Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) or Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (SP1).

More Information

To verify that RDP 8.0 is enabled on a remote computer that's running Windows 7 SP1, use Remote Desktop Connection (RDC) 8.0 to connect to the computer from a computer that’s running Windows 8 or Windows 7 SP1. Then, follow these steps to verify that RDP 8.0 is enabled:

If RDP 8.0 is enabled, the connection quality button will be displayed in the connection bar.

Click the connection quality button to open an information dialog box that resembles the following. (Refer to the following screen shot for this step.)

The presence of the connection quality icon and the connection quality dialog box confirms the availability of RDP 8.0 for the remote connection.

These features are available only when you use a client that is compatible with RDP 8.0. For example, a computer that's running Windows 8 or Windows 7 SP1 with the RDP 8.0 update installed can connect to another computer that is running Windows 7 SP1 with the RDP 8.0 update installed.

The Remote Desktop Connection 8.0 update supports the following new features when you connect to a supported and appropriately configured server:

Remote Desktop Protocol 8.0

RDP 8.0 support includes the following:

Remote for WAN

RemoteFX Adaptive Graphics

Remote Network Auto Detect

RemoteFX Media Streaming

This feature is available when you connect to computers that are running one of the following operating systems:

Windows 8

Windows Server 2012

Windows 7 with RDP 8.0 installed and enabled

Dynamic In-Session USB Redirection

This feature lets users select USB devices for redirection in the middle of a remote session. USB devices can be swapped between remote sessions or with the local computer. When the RemoteFX USB redirection feature is enabled, users can tap the Devices icon on the connection bar to select which devices are redirected.

Dynamic In-Session USB Redirection is available when you connect to computers that are running one of the following operating systems:

Windows 8

Windows Server 2012

Windows 7 with the RDP 7.1 RemoteFX vGPU feature enabled

Windows 7 with RDP 8.0 installed and enabled

Improved single sign-in experience for Remote Desktop Web Access

This feature simplifies and improves the user experience. It lets users provide their user names and passwords only one time when they connect to IT published apps and desktops. Users are not prompted to provide their credentials for successive connections.

This feature is available only when you connect to Windows Server 2012 virtual-machine based deployments and session-based desktop deployments.

Reconnect for RemoteApp and Desktop Connections

This feature lets users easily disconnect and reconnect to IT published apps and desktops. It is available to users when they use the RemoteApp and Desktop Connections feature to connect to Windows Server 2012 virtual machine-based desktop deployments and session-based desktop deployments.

Support for RemoteFX Media Redirection APIs for VoIP applications

This feature enables applications such as Lync 2013 to deliver a rich audio and video conferencing experience. For more information, see General information about Microsoft Lync 2013 VDI Plugin. This feature is available when you connect to computers that are running one of the following operating systems:

Issue After you use Group Policy to install and enable RDP 8.0 on a computer that has RemoteFX vGPU installed, RDP 8.0 is not available.

Resolution This update does not enable RDP 8.0 for connections to computers that have RemoteFX vGPU installed. If you must have RDP 8.0 enabled, remove RemoteFX vGPU from the virtual desktop.

The Shadow command cannot be used to remotely monitor another user's remote connection.

Issue Windows 7 SP1 supports the Shadow command (Remote Control). This command can be used by an administrator to view or control an active session of another user. After RDP 8.0 is enabled on a computer that's running Windows 7 SP1, an administrator user cannot use the Shadow command to view or control another user's session.

Resolution Administrators can use Remote Assistance or another product that provides similar capability to view or control another user's session.

Aero Glass support is unavailable.

Issue The Aero Glass remoting feature in Windows 7 lets users who are running compatible Remote Desktop Connection clients use features such as a Flip-3D, the live task bar preview, and the translucent window border in a remote desktop session when a compatible RDC 7.0 client is used. After RDP 8.0 is enabled, users cannot use the Aero Glass remoting feature.

Resolution Administrators should not enable RDP 8.0 on remote computers that are running Windows 7 SP1 for users who must use the Aero Glass remoting feature.

RDP 8.0 on remote computers that are running Windows 7 SP1 does not use the UDP protocol.

Issue The RemoteFX for WAN feature in RDP 8.0 uses TCP and UDP protocols to optimize the user experience. After you install and enable RDP 8.0 on computers that are running Windows 7 SP1, RDP 8.0 is configured to use only the TCP protocol.

Resolution Configure RDP 8.0 to use both the TCP and UDP protocols. For more information, see the "How to enable RDP 8.0" section.

Local administrators who are not members of the Remote Desktop Users group cannot sign in by using a Remote Desktop Connection client.

Issue After RDP 8.0 is enabled, local administrators who are not a member of the Remote Desktop Users group cannot sign in.

You cannot use the multi-touch and gestures functionalities when you connect to a computer remotely.

Issue This issue occurs when you use Remote Desktop Connection Client 8.0 on a computer that is running Windows 7 SP1.

Resolution The RemoteFX multi-touch feature is supported only when both the client and server computers are running Windows 8 or Windows Server 2012.

You are repeatedly prompted for authentication when you connect to computers by using Remote Web Access in Small Business Server 2011 and Windows Server 2012 Essentials domains.

Issue When you try to connect to a computer in a Windows Server 2012 Essentials, Windows Small Business Server 2011 Standard, or Windows Small Business Server 2011 Essentials domain by using Remote Web Access or Remote Desktop Gateway, you are repeatedly prompted for authentication.